Boing Boing » charitable givinghttp://boingboing.net
Brain candy for Happy MutantsSun, 02 Aug 2015 19:28:50 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.2IRS finally agrees to do something about its $1.5 trillion nonprofit databasehttp://boingboing.net/2015/06/30/irs-finally-agrees-to-do-somet.html
http://boingboing.net/2015/06/30/irs-finally-agrees-to-do-somet.html#commentsTue, 30 Jun 2015 17:51:42 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=401189
Radical archivist Carl Malamud writes, "Since 2008, Public.Resource.Org has been trying to get the IRS to release the database of the annual reports of nonprofits in a better way.]]>
Radical archivist Carl Malamud writes, "Since 2008, Public.Resource.Org has been trying to get the IRS to release the database of the annual reports of nonprofits in a better way. The nonprofit sector in the U.S. represents $1.5 trillion in economic activity and over 9% of jobs."

Just like the SEC's EDGAR database does for for-profit, the IRS Form 990 is how our country insists that nonprofit report on their operations annually. By doing so, our markets become more transparent and more efficient.

But, this database has been a mess. The IRS has been distributing the Form 990 as low-resolution bitmap images, despite the fact that over half of nonprofits e-file their returns. An e-filed return is nicely formatted XML data, but the IRS has been imaging that information onto the form and releasing as a .tiff file, no different than paper scans. Ouch.

The court victory was nice, but it was a win under the Freedom of Information Act, which means we had to ask for specific returns. And, it took Tom Burke, my lawyer, two years (and $217,000 in billable hours, which his firm donated to me pro bono) to get to that point. But, we don't want just 9 returns, we want the whole database released. Last week, we started a campaign to get lots of organizations to submit FOIA requests for e-file data, the hope being the IRS would see that they were going to be deluged with individual requests and it would be way easier just to release the database.

Today, the IRS released a statement saying they're going to do what we've been hoping for, saying they are going to release e-file data and this is a "priority for the IRS". Congratulations to the IRS on taking this important step! This was nice to see.

================== IRS Statement ==================

IRS works towards making e-filed Forms 990 available in machine-readable format.

The IRS has been actively considering the district courtâ€™s ruling in the Public.Resource.Org case, where the district court ordered the IRS to produce electronic versions of the publicly available portions of nine exempt organization returns (Forms 990) in MEF, Metadata Exchange Format (or machine-readable format). Machine-readable is not a format that the IRS has historically used to make Forms 990 available. The IRS did produce the Forms 990, but those forms were manually processed in order to comply with the courtâ€™s ruling.

The IRS has been actively considering how to incorporate new technology into its exempt organization return processing capabilities in order to better support the exempt organizations and those who use the Forms 990 data. The IRS has made substantial progress in developing a technology solution that, when perfected, will allow the IRS to provide electronically-filed Forms 990 in a machine-readable format. This solution will ensure that sensitive or personally identifiable information continues to be protected from public distribution. The IRS expects that this technology solution should be in place in early 2016.

Currently, when the IRS distributes Forms 990 series information under section 6104 or the FOIA, it includes all information and documents (other than information that must be restricted under section 6103 or is PII) submitted by the exempt organization. When the IRS begins to provide the e-filed Form 990 data in machine-readable format, as described above, it will stop including extraneous information provided by exempt organizations when they file their Forms 990 series. Extraneous information includes information that is not required by the Forms 990 series and related schedules.

http://boingboing.net/2015/06/30/irs-finally-agrees-to-do-somet.html/feed0Gamergate cross-stitchhttp://boingboing.net/2015/05/21/gamergate-cross-stitch.html
http://boingboing.net/2015/05/21/gamergate-cross-stitch.html#commentsThu, 21 May 2015 22:00:59 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=389939
Bidding starts at $10, proceeds go to benefit Skepchickcon in Minneapolis, July 2-5.
]]>
Bidding starts at $10, proceeds go to benefit Skepchickcon in Minneapolis, July 2-5.
]]>http://boingboing.net/2015/05/21/gamergate-cross-stitch.html/feed0Triumphant Tories vow to ram through mass spying bill -- you can stop them!http://boingboing.net/2015/05/11/triumphant-tories-vow-to-ram-t.html
http://boingboing.net/2015/05/11/triumphant-tories-vow-to-ram-t.html#commentsMon, 11 May 2015 13:33:07 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=386971
Ed from the Open Rights Group writes, "The Conservatives have won an absolute majority in the General Election. The Home Secretary Theresa May has already said that she will use this majority to pass a new Snoopers' Charter."

"But the Conservatives have a very small majority so if we work hard enough and persuade enough MPs that increasing surveillance is wrong, we can stop them.

"But the Conservatives have a very small majority so if we work hard enough and persuade enough MPs that increasing surveillance is wrong, we can stop them. We can do it, but we need your help. Can you join ORG today and give £5 a month to help us fight off the Snoopers Charter?"

The massively unpopular Snooper's Charter is a mass-spying bill that requires ISPs, online services and telcoms companies to retain enormous amounts of private online transactions, and to hand them over to government and law enforcement employees without a warrant. It was repeatedly defeated in the last Parliament, but the Tories are poised to ram it through.

Theresa May has already said this morning that she will use this majority to pass a new Snoopers' Charter. The light at the end of the tunnel is that the Conservatives' majority is tiny. Their leadership will have to work incredibly hard to secure a majority for new laws. Every MP's vote will count and this presents a huge opportunity for campaigns like ORG's to influence what happens.

In the early morning of March 21, the building behind ours caught fire.

]]>
The excellent radical publisher AK Press has had a devastating warehouse fire and is fundraising $150K to stay in business.

In the early morning of March 21, the building behind ours caught fire. Two people lost their lives. The fire moved to the mixed-use warehouse building we share with 1984 Printing and 30+ residents. Everyone in our building got out safely, but several units were completely destroyed. There was extensive water and smoke damage to other units, including the ones occupied by AK Press and 1984 Printing.

On the afternoon of March 24th, the City of Oakland red-tagged our building, which prohibits us from occupying it. We don't know how long this will last, but it obviously means we can't conduct business as usual.

We know how many of you support what AK Press does and the important role it plays in independent and radical publishing. A lot of you have been asking what is the best way to help us in the midst of this chaos and disruption. In fact, the outpouring of support and mutual aid has been pretty damn amazing. There was a small army of people here helping with clean-up over the weekend, and we've already raised some emergency funds from generous donations via PayPal (thank you!!) while we were working out the logistics of coordinating a larger fund drive.

http://boingboing.net/2015/03/23/auctioning-art-from-an-mc-fron.html/feed0Fundraising for Alpha, an sf/f teen writing workshophttp://boingboing.net/2015/03/10/fundraising-for-alpha-an-sff.html
http://boingboing.net/2015/03/10/fundraising-for-alpha-an-sff.html#commentsTue, 10 Mar 2015 14:18:41 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=371145
Lara writes, "Writing genre fiction can be a lonely business for teens. The Alpha SF/F/H Workshop brings together young writers, aged 14 to 19, for 10 days of creation and peer review critiques.]]>

Lara writes, "Writing genre fiction can be a lonely business for teens. The Alpha SF/F/H Workshop brings together young writers, aged 14 to 19, for 10 days of creation and peer review critiques. At the end of the workshop, students leave with new skills and a vibrant network of support."

Alphans have published in dozens of markets, including Lightspeed, Clarkesworld, Analog and Strange Horizons. Many of them have placed and won in contests such as The Dell Magazine Award, Writers of the Future, and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Tamora Pierce, author of young adult series such as Protector of the Small and The Provost's Dog, has instructed at the workshop every year since its inception. This year, instructors include Ellen Kushner, author of the beloved Riverside books recently adapted into an award winning Audible series, Delia Sherman of Freedom Maze fame, and the Andre Norton-award winning Alaya Dawn Johnson.

Alpha works hard to keep costs low--every staff member is a volunteer, and the tuition is kept at the lowest possible level--but prospective students often require financial aid. This year--as they have for the past several--alumni have contributed writing and art to an illustrated flash fiction anthology and offered it as a donor reward in the entirely alumni-organized scholarship fund drive.

The Alpha alumni fundraiser will run March 17-26. Your tax-deductible donation really could change the course of our young writers' lives.

Jurassic London was founded by Anne C Perry and Jared Shurin in 2011 and has since released several highly-regarded and award-winning titles. The publisher has worked with partners such as Tate Britain, English PEN, the Egypt Exploration Society, the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the National Maritime Museum.

Jurassic London is a not for profit organisation. All proceeds from the sale of Jews vs Zombies and Jews vs Aliens will go to support UK charity Mosac.

Mosac (Charity No: 1139077) provides practical and emotional support to non-abusing parents, carers and families of children who have been sexually abused. Based in Greenwich in south London, Mosac offers a national helpline, as well as counselling, advocacy, support groups and play therapy, and aims to break the silence surrounding child sexual abuse by raising awareness through training and consultancy.

http://boingboing.net/2015/02/23/jews-vs-zombies-and-aliens-vs.html/feed0Help improve diverse accessibility for PDX's Open Source Bridge conferencehttp://boingboing.net/2014/12/23/help-improve-diverse-accessibi.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/12/23/help-improve-diverse-accessibi.html#commentsWed, 24 Dec 2014 02:00:40 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=354940
Sumana writes, "Open Source Bridge is already a leader among tech conferences in diversity-friendliness -- OSB featured a strong code of conduct, accessibility, well-labelled food for all needs, and cheap & free admissions before they became de rigeur, and in 2014 boasted a gender-balanced slate of speakers."

"But they need more money to add childcare, travel scholarships, and more.

]]>
Sumana writes, "Open Source Bridge is already a leader among tech conferences in diversity-friendliness -- OSB featured a strong code of conduct, accessibility, well-labelled food for all needs, and cheap & free admissions before they became de rigeur, and in 2014 boasted a gender-balanced slate of speakers."

"But they need more money to add childcare, travel scholarships, and more. So I am donating up to $15,000 to its parent nonprofit -- depending on how much other donors are willing to match by December 29th."

Stumptown demonstrates its values before, during, and after OSBridge, and documents them to make a playbook other event planners can reuse. The Syndicate encourages volunteers to help make Open Source Bridge happen (showing appreciation by giving them free access to the conference), encourages them with a reassuring form and clear expectations, and mentors them with structured orientations. The Code of Conduct, accessible venues, clearly labelled food, cheap or free admissions, and open source conferenceware all model effective and ethical collaboration.

But, until now, Stumptown Syndicate hasn’t had the money to host childcare at its events, to offer travel scholarships to OSBridge speakers from other countries, or improve the audiovisual experience (with faster video processing or transcripts/captioning). And it’s had to host its events at borrowed or rented venues, which reduces the Syndicate’s ability to nurture new events and communities; more money in the bank opens the possibility of a more permanent event space.

http://boingboing.net/2014/12/23/help-improve-diverse-accessibi.html/feed0Gnupg needs your support!http://boingboing.net/2014/12/21/gnupg-needs-your-support.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/12/21/gnupg-needs-your-support.html#commentsSun, 21 Dec 2014 20:00:47 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=354711
Gnu Privacy Guard (GPG, the free/open version of PGP) relies on donations to pay developers to keep the project alive and viable; as one of its millions of users, I am grateful and indebted to the people who keep it alive and that's why I've just donated to the project.]]>
Gnu Privacy Guard (GPG, the free/open version of PGP) relies on donations to pay developers to keep the project alive and viable; as one of its millions of users, I am grateful and indebted to the people who keep it alive and that's why I've just donated to the project.

gnupg is especially important as it is is both free of charge and freely licensed. That second point is critical, it means that gnupg is open to scrutiny from any expert to help ensure it is free of back doors or other problems that might compromise its effectiveness. For users of alternate operating systems like BSD and Linux, it is often the only choice for certain applications of encryption. Thankfully, it happens to be a usable and useful one that interoperates with the commercial, proprietary choices available to users of more mainstream operating systems.

http://boingboing.net/2014/12/21/gnupg-needs-your-support.html/feed0Comics Code Authority merch to support anti-censorship work at CBLDFhttp://boingboing.net/2014/12/17/comics-code-authority-merch-to.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/12/17/comics-code-authority-merch-to.html#commentsThu, 18 Dec 2014 04:00:19 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=354016
From IO9's excellent guide to charitable merch you can buy to support good causes, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's range of excellent swag, including these items bearing the logo of the hated, defunct Comics Code Authority, whose trademarks the CBLDF acquired in 2011.]]>
From IO9's excellent guide to charitable merch you can buy to support good causes, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's range of excellent swag, including these items bearing the logo of the hated, defunct Comics Code Authority, whose trademarks the CBLDF acquired in 2011.
]]>http://boingboing.net/2014/12/17/comics-code-authority-merch-to.html/feed0Power up! Donate to EFF now and double your donation!http://boingboing.net/2014/12/11/power-up-donate-to-eff-now-an.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/12/11/power-up-donate-to-eff-now-an.html#commentsThu, 11 Dec 2014 10:46:32 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=352836
EFF has secured a fund of matching grants -- all the donations that are made during the Power Up period are matched, dollar-for-dollar, doubling your donations!]]>
EFF has secured a fund of matching grants -- all the donations that are made during the Power Up period are matched, dollar-for-dollar, doubling your donations!

http://boingboing.net/2014/12/11/power-up-donate-to-eff-now-an.html/feed0Fundraiser tee: #000000 {lives:matter;}http://boingboing.net/2014/11/26/fundraiser-tee-000000-lives.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/11/26/fundraiser-tee-000000-lives.html#commentsThu, 27 Nov 2014 04:00:29 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=348572$12: 1/3 of profits go to Ferguson Public Library, 1/3 to This Week In Blackness Media and 1/3 to Feed the Children of Ferguson.]]>$12: 1/3 of profits go to Ferguson Public Library, 1/3 to This Week In Blackness Media and 1/3 to Feed the Children of Ferguson. (Thanks, Clive!)
]]>http://boingboing.net/2014/11/26/fundraiser-tee-000000-lives.html/feed0Mammoth, previously unpublished interview with Iain Banks about The Culturehttp://boingboing.net/2014/11/10/mammoth-previously-unpublishe.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/11/10/mammoth-previously-unpublishe.html#commentsMon, 10 Nov 2014 20:00:00 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=344541
Niall sends us, "a newly-published 5,500 word interview with Iain Banks, conducted by Jude Roberts in 2010 as part of her PhD on The Culture, and includes discussion of how themes of gender, embodiment and violence work themselves out in his novels; published as bonus content for this year's fund drive for Strange Horizons."

"The fundraiser is just entering its final week.

]]>
Niall sends us, "a newly-published 5,500 word interview with Iain Banks, conducted by Jude Roberts in 2010 as part of her PhD on The Culture, and includes discussion of how themes of gender, embodiment and violence work themselves out in his novels; published as bonus content for this year's fund drive for Strange Horizons."

"The fundraiser is just entering its final week. We've got more material lined up to publish as we raise more money, including a new "Ancillary Justice" story by the Hugo/Nebula/Clarke/everything-winning Ann Leckie -- plus, everyone who donates gets entered into a prize draw for art, games, and books (lots of books). So far we've raised $6,300 of our $13,500 goal; more information, and links to donate, can be found here (main page), here (bonus content) and here (list of prizes). Thanks!"

JR: Could you elaborate on what "humanist" means to you?

IB: I think I fit the dictionary definition of a Humanist pretty well: non-religious, non-superstitious, basing morality on shared human values of decency, tolerance, reason, justice, the search for truth, and so on. My personal take on this goes a little further—as any serious SF writer's would kind of have to unless they reject the very idea of both AI and aliens—to encompass the rights both of these (as it were, still potential) categories, but other than that I'm probably fairly typical.

JR: To what extent does your writing about the Culture endorse the Culture's point of view?

IB: Probably too much. I started out bending over backwards to present the opposite point of view in Consider Phlebas, making it look like the Culture represented the bad guys, at the start, at least, but, let's face it; La Culture: c'est moi.

JR: Many critics and reviewers have claimed that the Culture represents the American Libertarian ideal. Given that this is clearly not the case, how do you characterise the politics of the Culture?

IB: Really? I had no idea. Obviously I haven't read the output of the relevant critics and reviewers. Let's be clear: unless I have profoundly misunderstood its position, I pretty much despise American Libertarianism. Have these people seriously looked at the problems of the world and thought, 'Hmm, what we need here is a bit more selfishness'? . . . I beg to differ. This is not say that Libertarianism can't represent a progressive force, in the right circumstances, and I don't doubt there will be significant areas where I would agree with Libertarianism. But, really; which bit of not having private property, and the absence of money in the Culture novels, have these people missed? The Culture is hippy commies with hyper-weapons and a deep distrust of both Marketolatry and Greedism. One rests one's case.

http://boingboing.net/2014/11/10/mammoth-previously-unpublishe.html/feed0Mayday PAC will support indie for KS senate if supporters donate $200K by Mondayhttp://boingboing.net/2014/10/11/mayday-pac-will-support-indie.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/10/11/mayday-pac-will-support-indie.html#commentsSat, 11 Oct 2014 19:00:06 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=337384
Brian writes, "The Mayday PAC is thinking of supporting the Independent candidate Greg Orman, who is running for Senate in Kansas against a lone Republican opponent.]]>
Brian writes, "The Mayday PAC is thinking of supporting the Independent candidate Greg Orman, who is running for Senate in Kansas against a lone Republican opponent. (The Democratic candidate withdrew); but we're only going to if we can raise $200k by midnight Monday."

"Some explanation came from the e-mail sent out by Mayday PAC:"

"We are now considering entering one final race. All eyes are on the Kansas Senate race. Greg Orman is an Independent -- not a Republican, not a Democrat -- and he could decide who controls the Senate. He is actively campaigning as a reformer against an entrenched incumbent who has taken millions from special interests.

Should we do this? If we raise $200,000 by Monday at 11:59pm, we will be in a place to firmly say: Yes, we're in."

Brian continues, "To me (and I have no inside knowledge of the board's decisions - I'm just a volunteer at this point) - this seems to be a test of whether or not Mayday PAC supporters think it is worth the risk of devoting resources an independent candidate, albeit one that is slightly ahead in the polls and which FiveThirtyEight gives a '67 percent chance' of Orman winning."

http://boingboing.net/2014/10/11/mayday-pac-will-support-indie.html/feed0Charity:Water's powerful video on water in Mali and Nigerhttp://boingboing.net/2014/08/18/charitywaters-powerful-vide.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/08/18/charitywaters-powerful-vide.html#commentsTue, 19 Aug 2014 03:04:40 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=325406
Rael Dornfest from Charity:Water says, "Today is a huge day at charity: water as we launch our annual September Campaign.]]>

Rael Dornfest from Charity:Water says, "Today is a huge day at charity: water as we launch our annual September Campaign. It's our biggest campaign ever as we try to raise $4 million to bring 100,000 people clean water in the Sahel region."

"The key to our campaign is a powerful 6 minute video our team shot earlier this year in Mali and Niger. Women there pull dirty water by hand out of 60 foot holes in 100 degree heat. Access to clean water completely transforms their lives."

He has experienced extensive organ failure and his remaining lifespan is measured in "days and weeks." His friends are fundraising on a Gofundme campaign for money to help him finish his days in as much comfort and peace as can be mustered.

Sadly, communication is already very difficult for him, so if you have called, texted, emailed, PM’d, or reached out in any other way in the last few weeks and haven’t heard back, this is why. It’s not because he doesn’t want to, it’s that he cannot. Please take no offense.

Organ failure and the pain meds have made it hard to communicate as clearly as we’re all used to. He has been focusing on rest and nutrition to fight this battle, and now we focus on time. The brief time for PG to experience the width and breadth of all of the lives he has touched.

As ever, Patrick has his special lady friend Kim (as he likes to introduce her) as well as family and close friends helping him get through this. If you would like to see him, please contact Vivid Muse immediately to try and work out details. The sooner, the better, as we’re told.

If you would like to send a brief video or audio greeting, or an email message (all to choochus@gmail.com) we will make sure he hears and sees it. If not video, please include a picture we can show as we read it to him. These messages of support and hearing how much he has meant to people gives a huge lift.

http://boingboing.net/2014/08/18/raising-funds-for-pg-holyfield.html/feed0Crowdfunding to send injured "How to Cheat at Everything" author to UK for free healthcarehttp://boingboing.net/2014/07/06/crowdfunding-to-send-injured.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/07/06/crowdfunding-to-send-injured.html#commentsMon, 07 Jul 2014 03:45:47 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=316349
I've written over the years about Simon Lovell's How to Cheat at Everything, a must-read encyclopedia of cons.

Lovell's been badly injured and is not recovering well. A crowdfunding effort is underway to send him home from the USA to the UK, where his elderly parents are hoping that he'll be able to get free care from the NHS.

Back in October, 2013, Simon suffered a severe multiple break to his right femur, requiring surgical implantation of titanium rods and some 2-1/2 months of hospital care. Simon has not been able to function (or work) much since that time, and recently has been admitted to hospitals five times over the last few weeks. Presently, he is still hospitalized for a variety of quite serious conditions. Simon is not healthy physically, mentally, or spiritually.

Simon's eighty-three years young father, Tony Lovell, who lives in the U.K., has been working to bring Simon home to live with him for recovery, for an extended time. Tony Lovell lives alone near Chelmsford, in the East of England. Tony Lovell and his daughter have been working towards setting up proper continuing medical care for Simon, and Tony Lovell is further trying to absorb all the literal baggage and costs . . . paying for Simon's return, storage and shipping of his personal effects, and so forth. There is essentially nothing left for Simon in the United States, sadly, in terms of work, tangible assets, or even a suitable place to live.

Father Tony and his daughter Sue (who is a career matron nurse) are going to have their hands full, to say the least. Retired Constable Tony Lovell is going to have to put his career law enforcement skills to work once again, this time working to restore his only son's health. Simon is not capable of much function at present and is clearly incapable of managing his own affairs.

Every single nickel of the net proceeds from this little fundraiser will go strictly to Simon's father, Tony Lovell, who will use them properly and wisely toward Simon's recovery. Tony is the type of person that would not ask for help personally, but Simon has a long road ahead. This isn't a quick process measurable in days, more like many months to a couple of years.

http://boingboing.net/2014/07/06/crowdfunding-to-send-injured.html/feed0Moving, effective video about kids in warhttp://boingboing.net/2014/06/04/moving-effective-video-about.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/06/04/moving-effective-video-about.html#commentsThu, 05 Jun 2014 04:00:05 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=308549
I was moved to tears by Save the Children's video, which is powerful and beautifully made. I donate to Syrian relief through the UN High Commission on Refugees.]]>

http://boingboing.net/2014/06/04/moving-effective-video-about.html/feed0Crowdfunding the Drinkable Book: a book of silver-doped water-filters for the developing worldhttp://boingboing.net/2014/06/04/crowdfunding-the-drinkable-boo.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/06/04/crowdfunding-the-drinkable-boo.html#commentsThu, 05 Jun 2014 00:00:32 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=308422
Jonathan writes, "The Drinkable Book is a water filter and an instruction manual for how and why to clean drinking water.]]>

Jonathan writes, "The Drinkable Book is a water filter and an instruction manual for how and why to clean drinking water. The drinking paper uses a thick, sturdy sheet of paper embedded with silver nanoparticles, which are lethal for microbes. Funds will go to print 1,000 Drinkable Books and distribute them in Ghana, Haiti, India, and Kenya with water nonprofit Waterislife."

Our goals include:
1) Engage local communities in protecting and cleaning their drinking water. WATERisLIFE has ties to rural communities in Ghana, Haiti, Kenya, and India, where feedback from local folks in these communities will be gathered in Fall 2014 through Winter 2015. "WATERisLIFE is a big believer in "boots on the ground," according to founder Ken Surritte. So the books will go with teams traveling to parts of Africa and India, where they'll hold educational sessions on maintaining a clean water source."

2) Theresa will also explore other filter prototype designs to determine the best way to clean water with this pAge drinking paper technology. While in South Africa, Theresa worked with Corinne, a MS engineering student from Carnegie Mellon University. Corinne has led a group of students to design an emergency water filter using pAge filters. This new filter design also shows great potential, especially for emergency response and disaster relief applications! Initial field studies on this new filter prototype will start at the end of the summer 2014.

3) The number of books needed is many more than Theresa has ever made in the lab, and the production needs to be scaled up.

http://boingboing.net/2014/06/04/crowdfunding-the-drinkable-boo.html/feed0Clarion SF/F writeathon: write, sponsor writers, help a new generationhttp://boingboing.net/2014/05/30/clarion-sff-writeathon-write.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/05/30/clarion-sff-writeathon-write.html#commentsFri, 30 May 2014 21:00:23 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=307177
Once again, it's time for the Clarion Writers Workshop writeathon - we need writers and sponsors to help fund the Clarion Workshop, the respected, long-running science fiction writers' bootcamp.]]>
Once again, it's time for the Clarion Writers Workshop writeathon - we need writers and sponsors to help fund the Clarion Workshop, the respected, long-running science fiction writers' bootcamp. A writeathon is just what is sounds like: a fundraiser where writers ask their friends to sponsor their writing. I'm writing 1,000 words a day, five days a week, on UTOPIA (working tile), a novel for adults: you can sponsor me here. (Disclosure: I'm proud to volunteer as a board member for the 501(c)3 nonprofit Clarion Foundation)
]]>http://boingboing.net/2014/05/30/clarion-sff-writeathon-write.html/feed0Crowdfunding £12,000 to fight mandatory UK Internet filtershttp://boingboing.net/2014/04/15/crowdfunding-12000-to-fight-m.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/04/15/crowdfunding-12000-to-fight-m.html#commentsWed, 16 Apr 2014 06:38:40 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=297701
Jim Killock from the UK Open Rights Group sez, "Recently the British Government, with the help of conservative religious lobby groups, has persuaded ISPs to introduce an internet filter across the UK.]]>

Jim Killock from the UK Open Rights Group sez, "Recently the British Government, with the help of conservative religious lobby groups, has persuaded ISPs to introduce an internet filter across the UK. Open Rights Group needs your help to challenge this. We want to make people aware that filters don't work, are dangerous for internet freedom and could give parents a false sense of security when it comes to their children's use of the internet.

"To get this message across we want to produce a high-quality, funny film that will re-start the debate about why filters are a bad idea. It will cost us £12,000 to get this campaign off the ground. We need to show people that filters censor the internet. Most of all, we need to tell politicians like Claire Perry that they have to stop blaming the internet for society's problems.

"Filters don't work. Help us to fight them."

Internet filters are a weak spot in the UK government's expanding censorship programme, and ripe for disruption through pointed satire. I contributed.

(Disclosure: I co-founded the Open Rights Group and volunteer on its advisory board)
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http://boingboing.net/2014/04/15/crowdfunding-12000-to-fight-m.html/feed0Move your domain, support EFFhttp://boingboing.net/2014/02/05/move-your-domain-support-eff.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/02/05/move-your-domain-support-eff.html#commentsWed, 05 Feb 2014 20:21:08 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=285724
Spocko sez, "The Electronic Frontier Frontier saved my bacon back in 2007 and they might save yours in the future, this is a simple, easy way to support them in addition to becoming a member.]]>
Spocko sez, "The Electronic Frontier Frontier saved my bacon back in 2007 and they might save yours in the future, this is a simple, easy way to support them in addition to becoming a member. In 2011 and 2013 Namecheap raised $64K and $44K for EFF with 'Move Your Domain Day.'"

For every your .com, .net, .org, .info and .biz domains transferred to Namecheap or hosting plan purchased on February 5, Namecheap will donate $0.50 to EFF. The donation amount goes up to $1.00 per domain/hosting plan if they exceed 10,000. And if they exceed 20,000 domains transferred or hosting plans purchased, Namecheap will donate $1.50 for each transaction.

Domain name transfer coupon code is NCMYDD and costs $3.98. Hosting plans up to 75% off (Shared, Business or Reseller) with coupon code HOSTWITHNC.

http://boingboing.net/2014/02/05/move-your-domain-support-eff.html/feed0Neil Gaiman reads "Green Eggs and Ham"http://boingboing.net/2014/02/01/neil-gaiman-reads-green-eggs.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/02/01/neil-gaiman-reads-green-eggs.html#commentsSun, 02 Feb 2014 02:00:44 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=284541
Neil Gaiman reads Dr Seuss's children's classic "Green Eggs and Ham" in this video, produced to celebrate $500,000 in donations to Patrick Rothfuss's Wordbuilders fundraiser, which is raising money for Project Heifer, a charity that helps farmers around the world with livestock and training.]]>

Neil Gaiman reads Dr Seuss's children's classic "Green Eggs and Ham" in this video, produced to celebrate $500,000 in donations to Patrick Rothfuss's Wordbuilders fundraiser, which is raising money for Project Heifer, a charity that helps farmers around the world with livestock and training.

Patrick's fundraiser has loads of great items for sale; I've donated some signed books that'll be up shortly. It's a great cause that I'm delighted to support.

http://boingboing.net/2014/02/01/neil-gaiman-reads-green-eggs.html/feed0Smoke-a-Bowl tees commemorate a Superbowl between two legal pot states, and raise money for NORMLhttp://boingboing.net/2014/01/25/smoke-a-bowl-tees-commemorate.html
http://boingboing.net/2014/01/25/smoke-a-bowl-tees-commemorate.html#commentsSat, 25 Jan 2014 17:00:59 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=282833
Kyle from Bumperactive writes, "On February 2, Washington and Colorado, the first two States to legalize recreational marijuana, compete in... The Smoke-A-Bowl!]]>
Kyle from Bumperactive writes, "On February 2, Washington and Colorado, the first two States to legalize recreational marijuana, compete in... The Smoke-A-Bowl! Bumperactive is celebrating the historic event with a special edition of three Smoke-A-Bowl IVXX tees, and a sticker set. $5.00 from the sale of every tee, and $2.00 from every sticker pack, benefits the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). 'Cause it ain't just about feelin' groovy. It's also about ending half a century of disastrous and inhumane drug control policy. We're 4% of the way there. Orders ship via USPS next business day!"

http://boingboing.net/2014/01/25/smoke-a-bowl-tees-commemorate.html/feed0MI5 whistleblower launches defense fund for whistleblowershttp://boingboing.net/2013/12/30/mi5-whistleblower-launches-def.html
http://boingboing.net/2013/12/30/mi5-whistleblower-launches-def.html#commentsMon, 30 Dec 2013 21:34:51 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=277053
Annie Machon -- an ex-MI5 spy who left the agency after blowing the whistle on the agency's illegal activities -- has launched a fund to offer financial support to other whistleblowers, called the "Courage Fund to Protect Journalistic Sources."

Machon left MI5 and disclosed that the agency had illegally spied upon British government ministers, that it had lied in order to send innocent people to jail for bombings in Ireland, had conducted illegal wiretaps, and had worked with MI6 in an assassination attempt on Gaddafi.

Machon left MI5 and disclosed that the agency had illegally spied upon British government ministers, that it had lied in order to send innocent people to jail for bombings in Ireland, had conducted illegal wiretaps, and had worked with MI6 in an assassination attempt on Gaddafi.

She announced the fund at the 30th Chaos Communications Congress, in Hamburg, with a stirring, scathing speech that took governments to task for invasive, bulk spying:

“It is incredibly corrosive to the human spirit to know that everything you say, everything you do, even if you just want to have a private conversation with your mother, is being listened to,” she said. “Now we all know we are being listened to and surveyed in this amazingly Panopticon-like manner.”

People like Snowden and Manning must be given support, she said, or civil liberties will continue to be eroded.

“So many journalists write so many stories, but what happens to the whistleblowers? They’re left swinging in the wind,” she said. “If they can’t survive the process of coming forward, then we will not have these people.”

Gmoke writes, "Pure Home Water (PHW), the same people who make AfriClay Filters -- a locally-sourced clay pot water filter -- in Taha, Ghana are now building toilet blocks for local schools. In June 2013, PHW built a 6-stall toilet block in 30 days for a school in the village of Taha. They are planning to build the same toilet block for the neighboring village of Gbalahi and are looking for $8,600 over the next two months."

http://boingboing.net/2013/12/24/crowdfunding-toilets-for-schoo.html/feed0Auctioning a conceptual copy of Banksy's thrifted "Banality of the Banality of Evil" to benefit 826 Valenciahttp://boingboing.net/2013/12/21/auctioning-a-conceptual-copy-o.html
http://boingboing.net/2013/12/21/auctioning-a-conceptual-copy-o.html#commentsSun, 22 Dec 2013 00:00:06 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=275784
A San Francisco artist commissioned a Chinese artist to make a copy of "The Banality of the Banality of Evil" -- a painting that Banksy thrifted, added a Nazi to, and shop-dropped back into the thrift store.]]>
A San Francisco artist commissioned a Chinese artist to make a copy of "The Banality of the Banality of Evil" -- a painting that Banksy thrifted, added a Nazi to, and shop-dropped back into the thrift store. The copy, called "The Banality Of The Banality Of The Banality Of Evil," is now being auctioned to support 826 Valencia, a literacy for kids program in San Francisco.

Chris writes, "In October 2013 British artist and provocateur Banksy purchased a landscape painting from Housing Works, the non-profit thrift store that benefits and supports HIV+ homeless people in New York.
Banksy then painted in a nazi soldier looking out at the landscape, added his signature below the original artist, K. Sager's signature and titled the work "The Banality Of The Banality Of Evil."

He then brought the revamped painting back to the thrift store for them to sell at an auction, where it sold for over $610,000, with all of the funds benefitting Housing Works' foundation.

In November of 2013, San-Francisco-based conceptual artist, Lizabeth Eva Rossof had a replica of the Bansky piece painted in China. She added a red balloon and requested that the replicator's signature (Mario Ma) be added to the canvas that is now titled, "The Banality Of The Banality Of The Banality Of Evil."
This finished work features four signatures: replica signatures of the landscape artist K. Sager and Banksy (who's revamped piece auctioned for over 600K), and unique signatures of Mario Ma (the replicator), and the artist Lizabeth Eva Rossof.

The painting is on display at Betabrand.com's San Francisco headquarters at 780 Valencia, now through the close of the auction on Dec. 22.
Take a look at the eBay auction here, and make a bid! 100% of the purchase price will be going to 826 Valencia."

http://boingboing.net/2013/12/21/auctioning-a-conceptual-copy-o.html/feed0GNU Privacy Guard crowdfunding for new infrastructurehttp://boingboing.net/2013/12/19/gnu-privacy-guard-crowdfunding.html
http://boingboing.net/2013/12/19/gnu-privacy-guard-crowdfunding.html#commentsThu, 19 Dec 2013 12:43:26 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=275323
GNU Privacy Guard (GPG) is the free/open version of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), the gold standard in secure email and other kinds of eavesdropping-proof, authenticated, private storage and communication.]]>

GNU Privacy Guard (GPG) is the free/open version of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), the gold standard in secure email and other kinds of eavesdropping-proof, authenticated, private storage and communication. The GPG project relies on donations and voluntary subscriptions to keep up-to-date and support new platforms. They're running a crowdfunding campaign that's shooting for €24,000, which they'll spend on rolling out an all-new site (with Tor access!), as well as GPG 2.1, tutorials, subscription management, material for people throwing Cryptoparties (security-training events) and many other laudable goals. I rely on GPG every day, so I've put in €100. I hope you'll give, too.

Main features

- Brand new GnuPG website
- Release of GnuPG 2.1
- Anonymous Tor network access to gnupg.org
- New server for web infrastructure
- New user friendly design optimised for desktop and mobile
- Fresh download page catering to all devices
- Updated collection of external videos, guides, and courses
- New page for Cryptoparties
- Continued availability of all existing pages and manuals
- New subscription handling system for sustaining GnuPG development

http://boingboing.net/2013/12/19/gnu-privacy-guard-crowdfunding.html/feed0Project for Awesome fundraising video about EFFhttp://boingboing.net/2013/12/18/project-for-awesome-fundraisin.html
http://boingboing.net/2013/12/18/project-for-awesome-fundraisin.html#commentsThu, 19 Dec 2013 02:00:04 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=274916
Jason writes, "Every year the YouTube community gets together for the Project for Awesome. A 48 hours event to raise money for all of our favourite charities by making, watching, commenting on and sharing videos about charities.]]>

Jason writes, "Every year the YouTube community gets together for the Project for Awesome. A 48 hours event to raise money for all of our favourite charities by making, watching, commenting on and sharing videos about charities. This year, I've decided to support the Electronic Frontier Foundation in my contribution to the project."

The EFF works to promote free and open internet, freedom of speech, privacy for individuals and transparency in governments. Based on the essential information released by Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning and Wikileaks we know that the US government has been spying on Americans and non-Americans alike for years. The EFF is currently waging multiple court battles challenging the constitutionality of these unwarranted spying programs. They need our help and support to keep the government accountable for their actions.

http://boingboing.net/2013/12/18/project-for-awesome-fundraisin.html/feed0Name-your-price bundle of kid-friendly RPGshttp://boingboing.net/2013/12/12/name-your-price-bundle-of-kid.html
http://boingboing.net/2013/12/12/name-your-price-bundle-of-kid.html#commentsThu, 12 Dec 2013 17:58:39 +0000http://boingboing.net/?p=273793
Bundle of Holding -- a name-your-price download service -- is currently promoting a collection of family-friendly RPGs, including several games that are suitable for age 5 and up.]]>
Bundle of Holding -- a name-your-price download service -- is currently promoting a collection of family-friendly RPGs, including several games that are suitable for age 5 and up. Ten percent of the purchase price goes to two worthy kids' charities (Save the Children and St Jude's Children's Hospital), and you can choose how much you pay (the recommended payment is $17). If you give more than $14.14, you get six bonus games, as well. Click through below for a list of the games in the bundle:

* Hero Kids: An ideal introduction to fantasy roleplaying for children aged 4 to 10.
* Mermaid Adventures: Exciting undersea adventures and strange mysteries. (Ages 6-11.)
* The Princes' Kingdom: Young heirs to the throne of Islandia, visiting the citizens of their land and solving problems. This bundle is the first .PDF version of The Princes' Kingdom sold anywhere! (Ages 5+, plus an adult.)
* Happy Birthday, Robot!: The charming storytelling game by Daniel Solis for families or classrooms. (Ages 9+ -- and especially good for grownups.)

Bonus games:

*
* Adventures in Oz - Fantasy Roleplaying Beyond the Yellow Brick Road: A loving journey into the lands of L. Frank Baum. (Ages 8+.)
* Camp Myth: The RPG: Third Eye's adaptation of the Chris Lewis Carter YA novel series about mythic creatures at summer camp. (Ages 8-13.)
* Project Ninja Panda Taco: Jennifer (Jennisodes) Steen's game of competing Masterminds and their biddable Minions. (Ages 8+.)
* School Daze: It's high school the way you wish it could be. (Ages 13+.)
* The Zorcerer of Zo: Chad Underkoffler's classic game of fairy tales set in the Zantabulous Land of Zo. (Ages 5+.)